Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) welcomes Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al Faisal, during their meeting in the Moscow Kremlin, on March 25, 2011. The current situation in the Middle East was the subject of discussion.HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud passed on to Mr Medvedev a personal oral message from King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.The Saudi leader’s message expressed the need for close coordination of Saudi Arabia’s and Russia’s policies in the Middle East and North Africa in light of the major events taking place in these regions at the moment. Russia expressed concern at the sharp rise in tension in this part of the world. It was noted that the peoples of the countries currently caught up in upheaval should themselves determine their own roads forward in their pursuit of political, social and economic development.The Saudi Foreign Minister went into some detail on the recent events that have led to the decision to send military units, mostly Saudi units and troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) joint armed forces, the Peninsula Shield Force, to the territory of the Kingdom of Bahrain. HRH Prince Saud Al-Faisal explained that this decision was made in response to a request from Bahrain’s lawful government, and based on the agreement on collective security that binds the GCC members. Russia expressed the hope that the GCC members’ efforts would help to stabilise the situation. Minister Saud Al-Faisal reaffirmed the Saudi leadership and King Abdullah’s personal desire to continue expanding and developing friendship and cooperation in all areas between Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation. The Russian delegation at the meeting included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Aide Sergei Prikhodko. (Photo by VLADIMIR RODIONOV/AFP/Getty Images)